Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Dear friends.

 I am honoured to join you today for the opening of the International Dialogue on Migration (IDM).

The IDM is an important platform to exchange views as well as analyze current and emerging issues on migration.

There are over 281 million people on the move outside their countries of origin. They move in pursuit of opportunity, dignity, freedom, safety, and a better life.[1] Many more are on the move within the boundaries of their countries and regions: In 2021, the number of internally displaced hit an all-time record high, nearing 60 million displaced persons.

Human mobility is impacted by and impacts major global transformations that we see unfolding in front of our eyes, including climate change, conflicts, demographic shifts, urbanization, and widening inequalities.

Yet human mobility plays a vital role in driving economic growth, alleviating poverty and inequality. It is a powerful driver of sustainable development – not just for mobile populations and their communities, but for the whole of society. Without international cooperation and effective management, however, it can result in tragic loss of migrant rights, abuse of migrant rights and an undermining of social cohesion.

Migration should be an integral part of our strategies to achieve sustainable development.

Anchoring the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in the 2030 Agenda, Member States have recognized that the SDGs cannot be fully realized without the inclusion of migrants and of migration in development plans, sectoral plans, and across levels of governance.

During the first life cycle of the GCM, we have seen encouraging initiatives to mainstream migration in such development plans, in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, and public health responses.

I also welcome the work being done by the UN Network on Migration at all levels under the leadership of Director-General Vittorino.

Last year’s International Migration Review Forum took stock of those advances.

 The Forum’s Progress Declaration encouraged Member States and other partners to take implementation of the Compact to the next level.

We owe it to every person on the move to ensure that their universal human rights and well-being are protected; that they have the means and capacity to fulfil their development potential.

We owe it to present and future generations.

At this critical juncture, on the path to the SDG Summit, now is the moment to leverage the potential of human mobility to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and beyond. And to safeguard our common humanity and secure the rights and dignity of all.

Let us all join forces and seize the opportunities that human mobility brings.

Thank you.